Next Season

[eyedr]

Are we there yet? I just got into bow hunting halfway through the season last year, a weird time I know. Man do I have the itch like none other to be in the stand. Anyone else have any more stories illustrated with pictures to help with the lul? I have been looking at google earth and the dnr HSOforum at land that we used to rifle hunt and that seems to help a little. It's safe to say that I have now found out the hard way why bow hunting is gaining so much popularity. My wife is annoyed with me.

[Lunker]

Addicting for sure. I usually get my game cameras out in June and begin checking/adding/moving stands in the spring. But the late winter lull is tough for sure. I have been organizing/cleaning/buying gear as well as spending time on google maps and looking for new places to hunt.

[minky]

I bought a new bow right at the end of last season so I have been trying to shoot it when I can.

[hockeybc69]

Ordering myself a new bow this week. Got my daughters bow ordered today.

I cant wait to get outside and shoot!!!!!!!

[SmellEsox]

I love bowhunting more than anything, but I can tone it down and focus on hockey and fishing for awhile before I really start craving the archery stuff.

[slimngrizzly]

Im excited too! I may be able to come up with a story and some pictures one of these days...

[paceman]

While up in the stands I took pictures/views from all directions. I uploaded them and created a folder on my computer. Now whenever I need a fix I simply click on a stand and scroll through the views. Not the same but it helps. I have them for every one of my stands, permanents and portables....

[Rippinlip]

The passion never stops for my wife and I.

This time of year we are shooting a hunters League during the week and some 3D's on the weekend when we can.

We try to get out for a walk on the weekends around our deer hunting areas.

Shed hunting will be on us soon and I am always looking at Google maps and plot maps to see if anything new comes to sight with last years observations.

To us its a 12 month season.

I am truly blessed.

[Bear55]

Its an addiction, thinking about it year round. Would be in the woods scouting this weekend if the snow wasn't so deep.

[Scoot]

Yep, there's bowhunting and only one other thing I think about every day of the year...

[phorn]

I'm going to add two more stands in places where I saw deer on regular occasions. Of course they were out of range during the season. : )It was the 1st season hunting this property and just when you think you have them figured out they through a wrench in it. Thats part of the fun. Also thinking of putting in a small food plot this spring.

[eyedr]

First thing I have to do is find out who was using the stand I put up on land I had leased. It's a real nice river bottom spot. Can't wait to get out shooting again and work on expanding my rang a bit. Felt comfortable out to 30 yards this year but I wouldn't mind working my way out to 40 this year. I don't plan on taking long shots but I just want to raise my confidence level in case a trophy of a lifetime steps out at 40 yards. Also going up to scout a vast expanse of public land in the spring. Gotta get a good lightweight portable stand and some steps. Any suggestions? May be packing in over a mile on some public land, need something light and quick setting up. Dang I'm excited.

[nbadger23]

I have only found only one cure to the long wait for September..... and that's turkey season.

[Lunker]

Eyedr, have you thought about a climber? That would be my suggestion

[HNTNBUX]

For me it would be a Lone Wolf and ladders but steps are lighter and even more versatile.

[eyedr]

I have thought about it, but Im not sure that the areas I hunt have the kind of trees that would work. Most of the stuff has a lot of branches or isn't straight. I have never seen one inaction so it would be hard for me to say for sure that they wouldn't work. I would love it if they did. I will have to do some more checking into it. Thanks for the suggestion.

[eyedr]

Forgive my ignorance, but I am wondering why not just use the steps that screw into the tree for portable stands? Maybe im missing something but this seems like it would be easiest.

[Lunker]

Personal choice. For me, I no longer use screw in steps because they are not very easy to screw in/take out repeatedly especially in hardwoods, it takes a long time to do it if you are trying to be portable, and they are not the safest. I use screw in steps now only as hand holds above my stands.

I use ladder sticks as well on my portable stands. That said, most of my "portable" i.e. hang-on stands are basically permanent. I may move them a little from year to year, but I don't use them as carry-in/carry-out stands. I use a climber when I need to do that because they are lighter, require less equipment, and are quieter and less work than putting up and taking down other types of stands. I also use a harness with any stand.

[DonBo]

Forgive my ignorance, but I am wondering why not just use the steps that screw into the tree for portable stands? Maybe im missing something but this seems like it would be easiest.

They are illegal to use on public land.

[Lunker]

LOL, and that of course...good point donbo, I was referring to private land in my response.

[minky]

I really like my climber, it lets me hunt a new tree / area everytime if I want.

[Wanderer]

Forgive my ignorance, but I am wondering why not just use the steps that screw into the tree for portable stands? Maybe im missing something but this seems like it would be easiest.

You do have to consider where they might not be legal where you plan to hunt but I still use them and like them a lot. I covet my collection of Deer Me steps - they've always been the best in my opinion but the Ameristeps aren't bad. Deer Me steps aren't made anymore.

I keep my steps in a fanny pack and just turn it so it's in front of me so when I open it while putting steps in, they're all easy to grab and I can install them all in one trip up the tree. I don't have to worry about how straight the tree is, how big of diameter, or how many branches there are, plus they pack smaller than sticks.

I have a couple Lone Wolf Alpha's and a set of 4 Lone Wolf climbing sticks (buy a 4th if you get the set of three) that I can strap to my stand or carry. It gets tough strapping the sticks to the stand then trying to carry gear in a regular backpack. There comes a point when you just have too much stuff. There are nice, roomy fanny packs available that might work better though. I have to say for regular stand moves, I don't like the sticks. Too bulky, time consuming, limiting to the size tree you can get in with the standard straps, and I honestly don't like setting them up. I pick big trees though so that might be my biggest problem with them.

I can set a stand in much less time with steps than I can with sticks but that's just how it works for me.

[Bluegill1510]

So you can't use screw in steps on state or county or any public land in Minnesota anymore? I haven't hunted public land since 2006 when I was in school in Bemidji (oodles of public land), so I haven't paid any attention to public land rules since I move back near St. Cloud. But since I have lost pretty much all my private land bow spots to being sold off, I may be looking at public land again. Plus the drive/passion for me to bow hunt isn't like it use to be when I did hunt by Bemidji and you could actually get away from people and see deer move naturally, and fall fishing, duck/goose hunting are on my list to do as well. I guess my question to you guys who bow hunt in central (St. Cloud and Alec. areas) and the metro, how do you get away from traffic/human presence and outside interferes that restrict the deer movement to just early morning or sunset or are just nocturnal??

[Wanderer]

The language about "screws" isn't standardized very well.

The only place I've found language that specifically calls out screw in tree steps as being prohibited is in State Parks (page 81). I would assume Scientific and Natural Areas would be the same since they don't want anything used that will damage the bark. After that the language on "screws" is vague and mostly refers to using them to support a stand. They don't want them left behind in the trees.

This isn't the first topic that has been left open to interpretation in the Regs.

Most of the language on this is HERE, scattered through pages 81-123.

By the way, don't cut shooting lanes either...

Getting away from others on public land in the central part of the state takes some effort. Sometimes you're just best using others to your advantage if you can figure out how the others change the travel patterns. It's just a game you have to figure out how to win.

[leech~~]

We use ladder stands now but for years used screw in steps. Not sure what the issue is with them because going back to the same tree year after year the holes just grow over. Are they going to outlaw maple syrup taps now as well?